Palmeiras draw with Cerro Porteño, quarters decided in Paraguay | OneFootball

Palmeiras drew 1-1 with Cerro Porteño at Nubank Parque in the first leg of the CONMEBOL Libertadores Round of 16. After taking the lead in the 82nd minute through Flaco López, Verdão conceded the equalizer deep into stoppage time, in the 92nd, after a mistake by goalkeeper Carlos Miguel.

With the result, Palmeiras will have to chase qualification away from home in the second leg, in Paraguay, next Wednesday (19).

Creates, but doesn’t threaten much

In the second minute, Vitor Roque threatened Cerro Porteño’s goal, but the Paraguayan defense managed to clear the danger.

In the 14th minute, Palmeiras slipped up while playing out from the back. Murilo and Emiliano Martínez made mistakes in defense, and the Cerro Porteño forward went one-on-one with Carlos Miguel, who made the save and cleared the danger.

In the 19th minute, Allan received the ball on the left, cut past the Cerro defender, and hit a low shot across goal, but the effort did not trouble the Paraguayan goal too much.

In the 30th minute came Palmeiras’ big chance. After a corner kick, Vitor Roque picked up the loose ball and shot, but Cerro Porteño’s goalkeeper made a great save. On the rebound, Flaco López got too far under the ball and sent it over the bar.

In the 41st minute, Allan showed up again. After a loose ball from a corner, the midfielder tried a placed shot, but Cerro Porteño’s defense deflected it out for another corner.

Pressure, a rough patch, and the goal!

In the 50th minute, Vitor Roque made a good play and laid it off for Piquerez, who hit it first time but sent it wide.

In the 54th minute, Palmeiras nearly scored their first. Jhon Arias pounced on the loose ball after a move by Vitor Roque and struck it firmly, hitting the post at Nubank Parque.

In the 58th minute, Allan created another good chance down the right, crossed into the box, and found Jhon Arias, who had a great opportunity but could not get his finish on target.

In the 68th minute, Cerro Porteño responded after a spell of pressure from Palmeiras. Carlos Miguel made a great save to prevent the Paraguayan side from scoring.

A minute later, in the 69th, Cerro Porteño did put the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Soon after, however, Palmeiras suffered another heavy blow: Andreas Pereira was sent off, leaving the team a man down.

In the 82nd minute, Palmeiras finally found the goal! Murilo crossed into the box, Cerro Porteño’s defense only partially cleared it, and Marlon Freitas collected the loose ball. The midfielder set it up for Flaco López, who finished to score Verdão’s goal! It was the Argentine’s 17th goal of the season.

In the 92nd minute, Cerro Porteño grabbed the equalizer. After a low cross from the right, the ball went under Carlos Miguel, who made a mistake on the play and allowed the Paraguayan goal.

What now?

Palmeiras return to action in the continental competition next Wednesday (19), at 7 p.m. (Brasília time), in Paraguay. Verdão will decide their place in the quarterfinals against Cerro Porteño.

Before that, Alviverde will take on Fluminense at the Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship, where they are the leaders. The match will be this Saturday (14).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.